By David Ponce

The word on the street (meaning Peter Kafka from AllThingsD) is that Apple has been going around TV networks over the last few weeks pitching a $30/month subscription service that would make it possible to watch TV through iTunes. It’s not clear exactly how this would work. For instance, we don’t know whether this would make live programs available live or as a later download, nor whether you’d have access to the same kind of programming that you get currently from cable companies. This of course would depend on how many networks jump on board, a selling task left up to iTunes boss Eddy Cue. Rumor has it

“that if anyone jumps first, it will be Disney (DIS), since CEO Bob Iger has shown a willingness to experiment with Apple and iTunes in the past: In 2005, Disney was the first player to sell its programming on iTunes, via a-la-carte downloads. And Apple CEO Steve Jobs is Disney’s largest single shareholder, a result of Disney’s 2006 acquisition of Jobs’s Pixar animation studio. Apple didn’t respond to requests for comment.”

Whatever happens, Apple’s in a hurry as they’d like to launch this early 2010.

The question is, would you pay $30 for a service like this? Would you ditch your cable company? Everything is moving to the web as it is, so this seems like a natural and perhaps inevitable evolution for broadcast… but is it too ambitious, too soon?

[ AllThingsD ] VIA [ Dvice ]

By Chris Scott Barr

If you’ve ever purchased something at an Apple store, you’ve probably noticed those handy little devices they use to ring you up. If you’re using plastic, they just scan your purchase, swipe your card and send you on your way without stepping behind a register. If you’re observant, you’ll also notice that the handheld device is a Windows-based PDA. How embarrassing. At least they are taking steps to eliminate these handhelds from their stores.

Apple has decided to start rolling out a new system which has similar functionality, but instead is built around the iPod Touch. They will simply be hooking up a barcode scanner and credit card reader to iPods running their special POS software. They’ve started rolling this out at one of their stores in California, and should have them at all of their stores for the holiday season.

VIA [ AppleInsider ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Technology is both a wonderful and frustrating thing. On one hand, it is always evolving and bringing us new features in a better, smaller package. Unfortunately as the new comes out, the old becomes obsolete. The easiest example of this would be movies. When the DVD came out it had far superior quality to the older VHS. Now it’s difficult to even find a VCR to play those old tapes. Thankfully Blu-ray players are backwards-compatible, but what about the next leap in technology? Well Disney and Apple think they have a solution.

Eventually we are going to get to a point where media is almost completely distributed digitally. Music is slowly getting there, and movies will begin catching up. But when you start distributing movies digitally, there becomes an issue of licensing and DRM. Apple and Disney have teamed up to create “Keychest.”

Essentially Keychest is a distributed content ownership model that would allow you to play content that you download on a variety of devices without any fuss. Essentially you could download a movie on your PC and be able to play it on your phone, game console, portable media player, etc. You would be able to do this without having to worry about ripping the DVD, you could simply activate a key that comes with your movie.

Yes, this is DRM. However, it sounds like the right kind of DRM (if there really is such a thing). As long as they aren’t going to tie you down to very specific hardware, it could turn out alright. It will be interesting to watch this develop, but I’m still wary of any sort of DRM.

[ WSJ ] VIA [ Dvice ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Remember that cool video I showed you not long ago from Microsoft? I’m referring to the one that showcased all of their ideas for a multi-touch mouse. Well in a completely unsurprising move, Apple has released their own such mouse, dubbed the Magic Mouse.

This new mouse is the first to incorporate multi-touch technology. It uses only a single button, much like every other mouse Apple has released. However, the surface of the mouse tracks exactly where your fingers are, and issues commands based on that. For instance, clicking on the right side will result in a right-click. You can also use some gestures (much like the trackpads on newer MacBooks), though they are limited to scrolling, zooming and navigation back-and-forth through web pages.

Apple hasn’t always delivered the best mice, so I wouldn’t be surprised to find that this one isn’t quite up to snuff. However, I’m curious to try one out myself. You’ll find these being sold along with the new iMacs, or you can purchase it separately for $69.

[ Apple ] VIA [ Gearlog ]

By Chris Scott Barr

It was pretty obvious from the start that Palm’s decision to make the Pre sync with iTunes was going to cause some issues. Well Apple pulled the plug by simply issuing an update that broke the feature, and Palm responded by complaining to the USB-IF. Not only did they reject Palm’s complaint, but found that the company had violated the USB-IF policies in trying to make their handset work with iTunes. You’d think that all of this would discourage them from trying anything further, right? Wrong.

The latest version of the WebOS software (1.2.1) “resolves an issue preventing media sync from working with latest version of iTunes (9.0.1).” To make things even better, you can now also sync pictures as well. If I owned a Pre, I would no doubt be happy to have this functionality. However, Palm is really pushing it. How about instead of focusing on making your phone work with the competition’s software, you make your own? That would be too much effort, no doubt. Your move Apple.

[ Palm ] VIA [ Mashable ]

By Chris Scott Barr

The battle between Palm and Apple over the Pre’s ability to sync with iTunes has been an interesting one. When it made its debut, the Pre was able to sync natively with Apple’s popular music application. However, the lastest versions of iTunes have since blocked this function. At this point Palm could either roll over and admit defeat, or find some way to force Apple to play nice with their phone. Can you guess which choice they made?

Not wanting to say “die,” the company went to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) which owns the intellectual property of the Universal Serial Bus. They complained that Apple’s decision to block the Pre from using iTunes was violating the spirit of inter-connectivity that was the basis for USB. They even went so far as to describe the underhanded tactics they were forced to use in order to initially get the two to work together.

Unfortunately for Palm, the very tactics they used were in violation of the USB-IF’s policies. Essentially what they did was spoof the hardware ID on the Pre to make it show up as an Apple device. Needless to say, the group denied their claim, as Apple has every right to decide what devices can and cannot connect to iTunes. The real kicker is that now Palm is in hot water for spoofing the hardware ID. Methinks it would have been better to just let this one go, rather than pointing the finger.

[ USB-IF ] VIA [ EverythingUSB ]

By Chris Scott Barr

Yes, we all know that Snow Leopard is coming out today. I’ll be heading to Best Buy to pick up my copy in a few hours (No, I’m not pirating it. It’s only $30 for crying out loud.) so I thought I’d share a little info with those on the fence. Specifically, those still running 10.4 Tiger.

Apple has stated that those using Tiger should probably buy their $170 Box Set for the full experience. I wouldn’t worry about spending that much. It has been confirmed that you can both upgrade and do a clean install (I’d recommend a clean install) from Tiger to Snow Leopard. Save that extra $140 and buy yourself something pretty.

[ AllThingsD ] VIA [ Lifehacker ]

By David Ponce

After news reports that iPhone and iPod products have been exploding and injuring at least one, now comes a video from someone in China that purports to show an iMac smoking and nearly catching fire. From what I can understand, first the screen started to smoke, then went blank. The user unplugged it and captured the above video (fittingly) with with iPhone 3G S.

Other than that there aren’t more details.

[ Original Report (Translated) ] VIA [ Cloned In China ]

By Chris Scott Barr

PC users have to wait until October for the next version of Windows to drop, but if you’re a Mac person, Friday will bring you the latest OS. Finally, after weeks of rumored release dates Apple has confirmed that August 28th is the official date for Snow Leopard.

Although Snow Leopard isn’t the major leap that Leopard and Tiger were, it’s still packed with new stuff. Exchange support, automatic time zone setup (uses a wi-fi signal to adjust your time-zone), smaller footprint and 64-bit support are only the tip of the iceberg. My favorite feature? The $29 price tag.

[ Apple ]

By David Ponce

A lot of people are pissed at Apple right now. This guy is shoot-it-with-a-gun-and-burn-it mad. Don’t watch the video if you loves them Apple. Oh, who am I kidding, this stuff is fun to watch!

If you’re unaware of this by now, there’s a growing anti-Apple sentiment going around the interwebs. It has a lot to do with their dictatorial and somewhat monopolistic practices in their running of the App Store. Apple decides which apps get in by a process that is not transparent, not consistent, not logical and often anti-competitive. The latest uproar is over their refusal of Google Voice, an app that could have fundamentally changed the way you use your multiple phone lines. The FCC is looking into it and if there’s any good in this world, things may get straightened out without the need for more iPhone-busting bullets.

[ YouTube Video ] VIA [ Gizmologia ]